Batting average .234 Role Baseball player Salary 501,500 USD (2014) Name Derek Dietrich Career start 2010 | Runs batted in 64 Weight 91 kg Home runs 24 Height 1.83 m | |
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Current team Miami Marlins (#32 / Infielder) | ||
Derek Dietrich crushes three homers!
Derek Richard Dietrich (born July 18, 1989) is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut on May 8, 2013. Prior to playing professionally, Dietrich starred at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio and played for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. While primarily a second baseman, he has also played left field and third base for the Marlins.
Contents
- Derek Dietrich crushes three homers
- Early life and education
- Minor leagues
- Major leagues
- Personal life
- References
Early life and education
Dietrich attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the top high school players in the country, he took part in the East Coast Professional Baseball Showcase and the AFLAC All-American game while he was a senior.
The Houston Astros selected Dietrich with their first selection, with the 111th overall selection in the third round, of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft. Dietrich opted not to sign, instead choosing to attend Georgia Institute of Technology, where he played college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball team. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's co-player of the week from March 23–28, 2010. He also played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Minor leagues
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Dietrich in the second round, with the 79th overall selection, in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Rays and made his professional debut with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League that summer. In 2011, while playing for the Bowling Green Hot Rods in the Class A Midwest League, he set a team record for home runs in a season and was named a Midwest League all-star.
Dietrich played for the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League and Montgomery Biscuits of the Class AA Southern League in 2012. After the 2012 season, the Rays traded Dietrich to the Miami Marlins for Yunel Escobar. The Marlins assigned Dietrich to the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League at the start of the 2013 season. Following injuries to Donovan Solano and Chris Valaika, the Marlins promoted Dietrich to the major leagues on May 8, and he made his MLB debut that day. He was optioned back to Jacksonville on July 22.
Major leagues
In 2014, Dietrich served as the Marlins' starting second baseman. They optioned Dietrich to the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in June due to his poor defense. After the 2014 season, Dietrich played winter baseball in the Dominican Professional Baseball League, but his season ended prematurely due to an ankle injury. Dietrich began the 2015 season with New Orleans. The Marlins promoted him to the major leagues on June 12.
Personal life
Dietrich's grandfather, Steve Demeter, played in Major League Baseball. Dietrich credits his grandfather with teaching him about the game of baseball.
In his spare time, Dietrich is a juggler, performing at community events and hospitals for children.